Style Me Pretty: Wedding Blog for the Style-Obsessed Bride

Neutral and Classic Virginia Wedding at the Clifton Inn

For our timeless-neutral-loving couples, we’ve got just the wedding for you. Our hearts are melting with this super sweet outdoor summer wedding in Virginia with the prettiest photos by Elisa Bricker Photography! Bride Allie wore a stunning Rime Arodaky gown and we can’t contain our love for the greenery adorned classic reception design by Mallory Joyce. Allie details her entire day below!

From Elisa Bricker Photography… Allie and Matt’s wedding took place in the middle of the summer in central Virginia. They chose The Clifton Inn for its at-home feel and wanted their guests to be welcome into a comfortable space that made them feel at ease. Their reception space was one of my favorites of the year! Their family and friends danced the night away nestled in between the trees while the candles twinkled on the tables.

From Allie, the bride: When planning our wedding, we had a few major priorities that drove our decision making. First-off, choosing our venue. We knew we wanted something in Charlottesville, where we both went to college and started dating ten years ago. The Clifton was a perfect venue to have an outdoor ceremony with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a gorgeous sperry tent for the reception. As The Clifton is also a boutique hotel, we were able to rent out the rooms for the weekend, and have our families and wedding party stay at the venue, which was a wonderful way to extend the wedding into a full weekend of events. They also have a fabulous restaurant that could do the catering and bartending for us.”

We also knew we wanted an awesome band that would keep all of our guests out on the dance floor – when we first heard The Adrian Duke Project, we knew they were perfect! Their set list of classic songs included a lot of jazz and soul, like Eta James, James Taylor, Ray LaMontagne, Elton John, etc that all of our guests could enjoy! After booking the venue, the first thing we did was hire a wedding planner. Since I am a student in medical school, I knew it would be hard for me to coordinate a lot of the wedding planning logistics without some help. When I talked to Mallory Joyce on the phone, I knew she was a perfect fit. I had seen some of her work before, and loved her design style, and when I heard she was also a florist, we were in! She really carried us all through the wedding planning process and kept everything in order on the wedding weekend – we couldn’t have done it without her!

With Mallory’s help, we were able to hone in on our design vision and find many of the other vendors we needed, including the beautiful stationary work done by Paula Lee Calligraphy, and many of the unique rentals that fit our vision. Mallory helped us to have a cohesive style with many natural tones, textures, and an overall organic feel that was elegant but relaxed at the same time. This perfectly fit in with our vision of a happy, outdoor, garden party wedding celebration.

When our wedding weekend finally arrived, there was a chance of thunderstorms in the forecast, which meant we would need to decide whether to move our ceremony to a covered patio. We decided to wait it out, and thankfully the rain never came and we were able to keep the ceremony on The Clifton’s front lawn as planned! Our close friend’s mother was our officiant, who kept our ceremony personal and lighthearted. Everything else went as planned, from the cocktail hour in the croquet lawn to the reception with dinner and dancing in the sperry tent. Everything went without a hitch, and we truly enjoyed every minute of the evening! One of our favorite moments was a tip from a guest, who told us to take 5 minutes to ourselves during the reception to be alone together and savor the moment. We’re so thankful we took his advice and had a moment to slow down amidst the celebration.

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Wedding Dresses

Rime Arodaky

The Runways 2018

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Same Sex Vineyard Engagement Photo Shoot

We are so SO excited to share this photo turned engagement shoot of Instagram’s most adorable pair, Allie & Sam. If you don’t know them from Insta, you might have caught one of their YouTube vids that celebrate the LGBTQ community (and their most adorable proposal eeeeever) or on their adventure blog Coastal Curiosities. And now, their opening up with such a sweet and intimate shoot that they did just after Allie popped the question to Sam with the cutest pics from Terri-Lynn Warren!

From photographer,Terri-Lynn Warren…After following along and getting to know Allie and Sam on Instagram I reached out to see if they would be interested in collaborating and doing a couples photo shoot together.

To my excitement, after booking in the session, Allie privately messaged me and told me about her plans to propose to Sam in the weeks leading up to our planned photo session.

She asked if we could make it an engagement style session and I of course said YES! Their sweet pup Lily even made an appearance! When looking through the photos their love for one another is clear to see and their smiles are simply infectious!!

Intimate Destination Wedding in Tuscany

Do you ever find yourself swooning over complete strangers’ wedding films? Confession: we do this all the time. The thing about wedding films is that they bring a unique life to a set of wedding images and they are oh-so-romantic, just like today’s lovely cinematic treat by videographers Happy Together Films! In an intimate setting, planned to perfection by Italian wedding planner Weddings in Tuscany, Natalie and Shane exchanged vows with the rolling hills and vineyards of Chianti as their witness….

From Happy Together Films… Natalie and Shane had this dilemma. They opted for a really small destination wedding in Tuscany with their nearest and dearest loved ones. With a small guest list of only twelve, they were able to celebrate in style. The place they found for the cerebration was in fact a very alternative venue, a countryside house in the middle of the hills and vineyards in Tuscany.

Since Natalie and Shane’s group was a small number of family and friends, they booked a local restaurant with an amazing Italian menu. Ohh, we remember it so well, the food was so so delicious. And the wine… no words. The perfect menu for small destination wedding in Tuscany. Natalie and Shane were very sure about going small and intimate. To help them achieve that, they hired a local wedding planner team to deal with all the logistics of the day. As they are from Australia, it was crucial to be able to trust a local wedding planner to help them plan from afar!

Skip what is not important for you, don’t waste your energy in traditional wedding steps if you don’t want them at your wedding. If you only have 10 or 20 guests, you probably don’t need formal invitations, it might be lovely to personally call each one to invite your guest. If you won’t have a big band playing, big set of party lights and a big cake, you may extend your wedding for one more day with your small group and experience more quality time with them. Wisely spend your budget to enhance what’s more important to you and creating an unforgettable experience for you and your guest is what every couples wishes. We are so thankful to Natalie and Shane for inviting us to be part of such a small and intimate group of people and be their destination wedding cinematographer. It was a pleasure being there and witnessing your super sweet wedding vows.

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Cinematography: Happy Together Films | Event Planning: Weddings in Tuscany by Chiara Sernesi | Celebrant: Elena Petrucci | Villa: Casa al Bosco

Colorful Summer Wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

Amy and Ben’s wedding day was the equivalent of a scoop of your favorite ice cream on a warm summer day: just right. This outdoor, brilliantly colorful, and maritime-themed wedding at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in Maryland boasted pops of bright magenta and the prettiest orange. What’s more is the newlywed couple, with the help of talented wedding planner and designer Kari Rider Events, included details with an ode to their profession as teachers like gold paper clips for the escort cards and (the most chic) clipboards for their seating arrangement. Enjoy this ridiculously happy couple and the beautiful photos from Renee Hollingshead Photography.

From Kari Rider Events… Nothing says “summer wedding” like a palette of coastal blues, colorful blooms, hand-dipped ice cream, and endless sailboat views. That was the scene at Amy and Ben’s waterfront celebration at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Maryland.

With both the bride and groom working as principals at schools in D. C., we wanted to incorporate some subtle nods to their careers in education—coming in the form of adorable white “clipboard” menus with the cutest little gold clips.

We carried that theme into the escort display, as well, using wooden clipboards to create contrast with the white board, blue lettering and vibrant blooms.

The maritime setting inspired the rest of the décor—layers of coastal blues, scalloped gold-rimmed chargers, a fun self-service beer boat, and a gorgeous sailcloth tent, to name a few details.

The result was a relaxed and intimate celebration with perfect personalization and even more perfect weather (80 and sunny with a fabulous breeze!).

Thank you so very much to the adorable Amy & Ben for sharing their absolutely beautiful, charm filled day with us. We love every, last wildly person detail that you infused!

Best parts from our sweet seats? The polkadot linens paired with the poppy, oh-so-happy colors of the coral charm peonies. The gold flatware upped the on-trend game and the ice cream surprise is one that we hope to see at every wedding reception from now until forever.

Watching the Sunrise in Ostuni With a Stunning Honeymoon Shoot

Honeymoons are truly the best. They’re a time to slow down and bask in all that newly married happiness. Couple that with a vacation in one of the most gorgeous spots on the planet, plus a photographer in tow and the result is unabashed beauty. The proof is in image after stunning image below. Watch the sunrise in Ostuni through the lens of Sergio Serrentino with even more right here

From Natalie…We wanted our minimoon to be focussed on enjoying the newly wed high and spending quality time with each other. Also, being die hard foodies, we wanted to ensure we were able to eat our way through Apulia while exploring this beautiful region.

Judging by the copious amounts of Burrata consumed, we definitely achieved that! I went for a dusty blue, white and navy color palette to complement the beautiful white city of Ostuni. Our favorite moment was for sure holding hands as we watched the sun rise with the stunning milky pink sky in the background.

Photography: Sergio Sorrentino | Dress: Lulu's | Men's Attire: Grana | Film Lab: Carmencita Film Lab

Carmel California Wedding Where The Mountains Meet The Sea

Three very short months ago, Charles and Kat traveled to the west coast to be married at the Tehama Golf Club in a charming outdoor ceremony where, as the bride says, they could see the mountains and the sea… a mere three months ago! Sometimes, it’s hard for us to believe that we have the privilege to share couples’ stories, dreams and ultimately, reality, in such a short time. Thanks to the incredible contributions from world-class wedding pros like Joseph Rogero… along with the expertise of Engaged & Inspired, Fiona Floral, and Lucky Devil’s Band {plus all the others who help orchestrate lovingly-planned weddings like this} … we are allowed to step inside the day and share it with you!

From the beautiful bride, Katherine… Although Charles grew up in Los Angeles, his family moved up to Pebble Beach after he graduated from high school. We spent many weekends visiting his parents, so from very early on, the Pebble Beach/Carmel area was special to us. In addition to it’s unbelievably beautiful setting, it was the spot where we celebrated many milestones. When we got engaged, we decided to share the magic of Pebble Beach/Carmel with the people we loved most.

THE LOCATION
After agreeing on the obvious location for the wedding, our venue hunt ended the minute we stepped into the entryway of Tehama Golf Club. Tehama, is a Native American word meaning, “Abundance of Nature.” The sweeping views of both mountains and sea, as well as the Old World meets Contemporary aesthetic blew us away. Since we knew most of our guests would be traveling far and wide to attend our wedding, it was really important for us to make the logistics easy for them ~ and the experience unforgettable. Tehama enabled us to do just that.

THE SPECIAL TOUCHES
Carmel was where Charles’ mom grew up and where his parents were married 37 years ago. We held our rehearsal dinner in the same room they were married — it was such an honor to be able to tie the beginnings of both our weddings to a single location.

My engagement ring is a family heirloom. Charles’ grandfather and grandmother were living in Evanston, Illinois when he proposed to her… the same place we were living when Charles proposed to me. It is an incredible privilege to wear it. Tradition means a lot to me. For my something borrowed, I wore my mom’s diamond bracelet… a blue sapphire ring from my grandmother was my something blue. We were married by Charles’ aunt’s husband, The Honorable Dick Livermore. Our ceremony was personal to us, as individuals, and a couple.

THE WEDDING STYLE
Charles and I consider ourselves romantic, old souls who are young at heart and we wanted our decor to reflect that. With that in mind, we opted for lots of lush, green and white flowers mixed with candlelight to achieve an uber-romantic vibe. So as not to compete with the naturally neutral palette and elegant aesthetic of the existing space, we went with Ivory, Light Grey with pops of Ocean Blue and Powder Blue. The reception room was surrounded by walls of windows and was drenched with the golden light of sunset for much of the early part of dinner. To play with that feature, we opted for ivory sequin table linens to subtly catch the light of the setting sun, as well as plenty of candles.

SOME MOMENTS THAT MEANT THE MOST
Charles and I were both completely overwhelmed by the love and genuine excitement from all the special people in that room. The word “magical” kept coming up throughout the evening.

We decided to do a short dance break before dinner to get everyone on the dance floor and get the party started. Coming into that room with the Lucky Devils Band energy high and everyone we love surrounding us on the dance floor was definitely the best part of the night. It also gave us a fun opportunity to dance through the crowd, saying hello and hugging our guests as we came through.

And then, right before we sat down for dinner, Charles and I snuck out to take some sunset photos by the mountains. As we turned the corner to the ocean side of the venue where we held our ceremony, we were greeted by several of our guests taking photos and enjoying the gorgeous sunset that evening. Suddenly we were surrounded by most of our wedding guests. It was a surreal moment to look around at our guests mixing and mingling as they basked in the magical setting behind us.

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Elysium Productions

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Lucky Devils Band

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A Bright and Airy Nursery with a Touch of Whimsy

We could probably tour sweet nurseries for the rest of our days and never, ever get sick of it. They’re just so dang magical and this latest installment designed by Lacey Michalek Interiors is absolutely no exception. It blends mid-century modern with blushing pink wallpaper used in the most unexpected way. The result is bright and airy with the sweetest sense of whimsy. Pore through Colleen Scott‘s images for so much more!

This young couple was expecting their first child and wanted her room to be light and bright and something that could stand the test of time. I started working with these clients when they had just found out they were pregnant with a little girl and we just completed it about 1 week before the due date.

The room had great bones, a large layout and high ceilings with beams. We wanted a modern eclectic fresh vibe for this sweet baby girl. This room is all about small thoughtful touches.

The vintage dresser refinished in a more modern color with gorgeous aged brass hardware, the modern pink and gold wallpaper to freshen up the bookcase and the custom artwork created by the couples favorite artist made this room unique to her!

Photographer: Colleen Scott | Interior Designer: Lacey Michalek Interiors

A Positano Wedding that Will Turn You into a Destination Bride

Next to tiny weddings and sheer wedding dresses, destination celebrations are by far the most popular trend on SMP. And guess what? This gorgeous affair features all three of those very trends and does so in a way that will easily turn said trends into timeless must-haves. Set against the backdrop of Positano, Italy with a gown fit for a princess and a groom who is so clearly in love, this wedding was built by friends and family and a tiny but mighty group of destination vendors – like Carmen Santorelli behind the camera and The Amalfi Experience helping with coordination. And the result is the kind of loveliness that we crave all. day. long.

From the Bride…I feel so fortunate to tell people that we wouldn’t have changed a single thing when looking back at our wedding day. Donny and I have always been up for an adventure. After reloading halfway across the country, we knew that neither of our home towns were fitting for our wedding. We always knew we wanted to do something a little bit out of the ordinary, and little did he know, before he proposed, I already had my heart set on a European destination wedding.

Really for us there were only a few things that were a MUST: A Catholic Church, close to the beach, intimate, and anything but a standard “check the box wedding” for our guests. When I started scrolling the internet for a location, Positano couldn’t have been more fitting. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta was located steps from the beach, Rada Restaurant overlooked the ocean, and there was a discoteca located on the lower level of the restaurant. Perfection.

Don’t get me wrong, planning a wedding across the world wasn’t always easy, but we stuck to a timeless romantic theme and took advantage of the beautiful Italian elements. After deciding on the church and location for dinner, I hired The Amalfi Experience to help with reservations and day of coordination. I knew I wanted to let the Italian backdrop speak for itself, therefore, we kept things simple and did most everything on our own.

Our invitation suite was created by one of my college girlfriends Libby from “Libby Rae Studio”. She brought my vision of Italian tiles and lemons to life in our crest and watercolor details page. I ended up using her designs throughout the entire event including welcome gifts and day of stationary.

Looking back, one of the funniest and most chaotic parts of the entire day was regarding flowers. My mom has prior floral experience, and we thought it would be fun to design and decorate ourselves. We put in a large loose flower order and the morning of the wedding my dad hiked up the streets of Positano to grab our order, which of course, was at the very top!

I have to thank my sister-in-law and best friend for helping decorate the restaurant. And then the two of them, plus my mom, for creating my beautiful bouquet minutes before our first look. Yes, we got married in Positano, Italy, but for us it was much more than that. We accomplished our goal of creating a unique experience for those that mean the most to us. All of the right people were there and the trip was exactly what we wanted. I am so thankful we chose Carmen to capture every single moment in the most genuine fashion.

A Peony Lovers Dream Wedding Celebration at the St. Louis Art Museum

This is a wedding that will warm your heart and wow you in one fell swoop. Stephanie and Mitch were married this past June and celebrated the day at the historic St. Louis Art Museum. This stunning venue has it all: tall ceilings, white walls, beautiful art, and views that will take your breath away. The couple’s wedding day vision was soft, feminine and sweet, yet classic and elegant. Kristin Ashley Events and Poppies Design Studio helped achieve the dream and Mike Cassimatis was there to take it all in. We’re delighted to share the beauty, today!

To set the tone for Stephanie and Mitch’s classic wedding, a custom monogram was crafted by award-winning stationery designer, Cheree Berry, and it was carried throughout the entire wedding day.

A little rain the morning of the wedding day couldn’t dampen this couple’s spirits. The skies cleared right before the ceremony, leaving behind rainbows and sunny skies, which made for perfect photos.

Following the ceremony, guests were greeted to an outdoor patio cocktail hour accompanied by a signature drink “The Stitch” (margarita mixed with beer). With guests coming in from across the country, they wanted to ensure one heck of a party with lots of ‘Ooh!’ and ‘Ahh!’ moments.

From the very first design meeting with planner Kristin Ashley Events, a Southern-Living flair arose with linen fabrics, assorted styles of chairs, silver flatware, and mixed-metal accents.

Spectacular florals from Poppies Design Studio set the tone before guests even entered the venue. And romance dripped from every last detail with a gorgeous soft pink, ivory, and mixed-metal color palette along with touches of natural greenery. The wedding reception was unforgettable with florals dangling above an X-shaped head table.

Hundreds of peonies, tapered candles, silk ribbon and the tablescape was filled with touches of gold lining the glassware, paper goods, and the wedding cake. But the real star of the day was the couple, whose love for one another could only be matched by the love from their 230 friends and family joining them for this special day.

Stephanie and Mitch wanted to be sure that everyone left happy and full! Each guest got a little taste of St. Louis with local, late night treats. As they nibbled on sweet and savory snacks, guests danced the night away. It was truly an unforgettable day and couple.

Elegant Garden Wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden

I think this wedding is the very reason that the outdoor, California vibe became so popular amongst the most stylish of couples. Because there is just something so incredible LUXE about dining outdoors amidst a garden and twinkly lights and passed bottles of wine, right!? Well, this duo took that very sentiment into the Chicago Botanic Garden and the result – with photographs by Kristin La Voie and Event Design by Clementine Custom Events – was an evening that blended beauty with warmth and a style so chic that it’s hard to find the right words.

From Kristin La Voie Photography… Close your eyes and picture the perfect couple with the perfect wedding day. Open them, and you’ll see that fantasy come to life in this post! Taylor & Elan are the spitting image of perfection, and their day was a match made in heaven.

A gorgeous summer day for a garden wedding was mother nature’s wedding gift to the duo. Everything was so stunning, like the bride’s Ines di Santo gown paired with a low ponytail, the hand torn edges on the stationery, and the open air tent reception! This Chicago Botanic Garden wedding is jaw dropping!

From Planner Jaci, Clementine Custom Events… A beautiful bright outdoor wedding featuring large Tuscan inspired urns greeted guests upon arrival, while pretty whites and soft neutral colors guided guests throughout the romantic garden spaces.

An incredible modern, lush and candle lit tablescape brought their family and friends together as they dined in the stunning pavilion at the incredible Chicago Botanic Garden. Finding ways of enhancing the existing beauty of the venue but styling it to perfection was our goal…. and one that I am so thrilled came out better than we could have ever imagined.

Thank you so very much to Taylor and Elan for sharing their beautiful day with us here at Style Me Pretty!

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Wedding Dresses

Ines Di Santo

Fall/Winter 2015

Spring/Summer 2016

Fall/Winter 2016

Spring/Summer 2017

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Como Anniversary Session Three Years Later At Villa D’Este

Do you remember this wedding? A California affair infused with personality, culture and the sweetest Bride and Groom. Fast forward three years and this crazy cute duo is celebrating their wedding anniversary in style with a trip to the shores of Lake Como and the talented Rebecca Yale in tow. I mean, how stunning is this gallery?

From Rebecca Yale Photography… I had the pleasure of photographing Alex and Bridgette’s engagement session three years ago at the beautiful Italian inspired Sunstone Vineyard in Santa Ynez (which was featured here on SMP) so it was only natural that we headed to Italy to photograph their anniversary session!

We spent the week exploring Como with friends taking an afternoon at the gorgeous Villa D’Este to capture some portraits in honor of their two year anniversary.

The bride and groom made the occasion a little more special by wearing a darker version of the same dress she wore at her engagement session as well as her wedding shoes, while the groom brought along the same suit he wore at Sunstone.

Photography: Rebecca Yale | Dress: Anthropologie | Shoes: Oscar De La Renta

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Rebecca Yale Photography

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Whimsical Tropical Destination Wedding in Sunny Turks and Caicos

Shealynn and Ross were married in Sunny Turks and Caicos this past March. Their whimsical wedding weekend was filled with the memories that dreams are made of. Before it all began, Anticipate Invitations crafted an amazing stationery suite that started with a Save-The-Date that invited their guests to “Fly Away To Turks and Caicos!” Held at The Shore Club in Long Bay, a remote resort with crystal blue waters and soft sandy beaches, this is a wedding that celebrates all things warm and sunny and fun and… well, just out and out exciting. Erich McVey and Sculpting With Time Productions were there to capture the emotions, the details and the fun. Read on for more from event planner and designer extraordinaire Two Be Wed!

Shealynn and Ross invited their friends to Fly Away with them on a beautiful vintage Save the Date travel poster. The airplane in the save the date is the very same vintage aircraft that Ross’s father owns.

Their entire stationery suite was designed by Anticipate Invitations. The incredible letterpress foiled invitation suite was multilayered with a vellum sea fan wrap and gold speck cork liner.

The wedding design was inspired by 1960’s Luxury Island life ~ a combination of tropical chic + casual elegance with a bold primary color palette of navy, red, yellow, and orange.

In his vows, the Groom shares a quote with his Bride:“True happiness is found in unselfish love. A love which increases in proportion… until it is shared.” The officiant tells them that they ‘… will weather many storms, together… to shelter each other during those storms.’

Watch and listen… as Sculpting With Time Productions captures their words, and the essence of Shealynn and Ross’s forever kind of love…
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More from Natalie at Two Be Wed… Anticipate Invitations made individual pieces of hanging art of ocean life that was hung on a large wooden installation leading guests to their seats where acrylic menus with gold grommets sat on top of the plate and a custom ikat napkin and coral beaded napkin ring lay.

Erich McVey and Emmy Award winning duo Whitney and Alex Douglas from Sculpting with Time captured the essence of this destination experience.

Lead Designer Ernst Jansen of Flowers by EA created eclectic island inspired centerpieces using colorful and textural elements including miniature bananas and fruit.

From the Bride… As a small town Canadian girl, I never dreamed that my career goals as an engineer in the oil and gas industry would lead me to Texas, let alone to Ross. Ross grew up in rural Pennsylvania and got a master’s degree in energy management which eventually put him in the same business where our paths crossed. After many business lunches in Pennsylvania where we would talk as friends about our struggles balancing success, family, and the dating world, we eventually realized that something more than a friendship had developed.

I had always wanted to visit NYC at Christmastime and shared this with Ross who responded with a carefree “let’s go”. A few days later, on a cold December evening, we officially became a couple at the top of the Empire State Building. We then spent many months dealing with the challenges of a long distance relationship while trying to get Ross a job transfer to Texas. Borders couldn’t keep us from finding each other nor could the distance of many state lines tear us apart. During this time we were forced to strengthen our relationship by talking about what we wanted out of our lives and enduring many plane rides to visit each other; besides what better way to truly know a person than by traveling with them?! Very early in our relationship we discussed our mutual desire to have a destination wedding (someday) and that became a reality for us as a couple when Ross finally got his transfer over a year later and then planned a surprise proposal at the top of the Empire State building where it all began.

We envisioned a beautiful locale that would allow us to mix an elegant black tie affair with laid back, island cool to prevent it from feeling stuffy.

Gown shopping will forever be one of the most special experiences in this process since it brought my mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law together at Kleinfeld NYC. I was very worried that the experience would be overwhelming and that I would be steered towards a simple beach gown rather than the showstopper I desired. Kleinfeld provided a superior experience and we had the lovely Camille from “Say Yes to the Dress” as our stylist. She selected a stunning Lazaro ball gown as the first dress and I was in disbelief that it could be that easy! My maternal grandmother passed away many years ago and left me with some gifts for purchasing my gown. I was wearing her vintage onyx ring during the selection process and I have no doubt she was there in spirit to lead me in the right direction.

Some of my favorite moments on my wedding day: Having a first look with my dad… and having him sing the first song Ross and I danced to. It was the same song he sang to my mom over 30 years ago at their wedding! Not to mention laughing hysterically while running down the beach during photos and trying not to trip over the giant dress! We also loved the incorporation of some simple touches that signified the joining of our two countries – Canada and USA flag cufflinks for the groomsmen, a humorous bar menu representing where we come from, and a thoughtful gift from my parents at the rehearsal dinner which was printed with “united we stand”. Ross and I both come from families who’s parents have been married for more than 30 years. This is such a rare thing in today’s society that we wanted the ceremony to have some special moments to honor them. These moments with our family and speaking out loud the vows we wrote for each other will always be the most meaningful of our entire marriage celebration!

We have countless special memories from our wedding celebration. We also had the chance to give back to the island that hosted us. Mission “Two Be Wed” was a unique idea from Natalie, our wedding planner, that we couldn’t wait to be a part of. A group of our wedding party and family spent a day helping paint school classrooms that had been affected only a few months earlier by Hurricane Irma. Seeing how happy those children were reminded us that the power of love can do good things in this world!

One of the most important pieces of advice I can give brides-to-be is to hold true to the vision you have for your wedding regardless of what others think. Even if… it is out of the ordinary or over the top. Others may not see how this will translate into a unique experience, but your guests will certainly feel appreciated, and most importantly, YOU will have fun! Let your groom feel like himself with his wedding attire, too. Ross insisted on wearing cowboy boots for our island wedding but he truly looked like himself coming down the aisle (in a new, stylish pair, of course!)

Finally, I can’t say enough how much a wedding planner helps with your sanity. Not only did Natalie of Two Be Wed, execute a perfectly styled and on-time event, she also kept us calm when a hurricane hit our venue only months before the wedding!

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Wedding Dresses

Jim Hjelm

Fall 2015

Spring 2016 Collection

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Wedding Dresses

Lazaro

Spring 2016

Fall 2016

Spring 2017

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Modern Inspiration Infused With the Prettiest Shades of Blue

Blue and white is a classic combo that proves time and again it looks gorgeous together whether decorating a home or laying the foundation for a modern meets classic wedding design. And the proof is in Sally Pinera’s pretty, pretty imagery. This shoot designed by Smith & James Events blends minimalist neutral design with all white florals by Catalina Neal, lucite invitations by the Idea Emporium and a gorgeous infusion of deep blue. Have a look.

From Smith & James…This shoot was inspired by the bride who loves romance but wants to keep things a little more modern with a bit of edge. We are always really excited about piling on the romance and working with neutrals, so we wanted to give things a bit of a contemporary take by incorporating lucite/clear acrylic into the mix, as well as bringing in a cool deep blue.

We have these amazing white hurricane candle holders that really brought the vibe together. Sally Pinera shot everything as Sally always does: with a hip, fresh, and exciting eye. We always look forward to weddings and shoots with Sally as she is a great collaborator with incredible taste.

Catalina Neal did the floral and she nailed it. We love her ability to make things feel lush, dynamic, and free-flowing. Her arrangements have this great movement and confidence. It’s hard to come by. Paper goods came from the brilliant mind of Carey with The Idea Emporium. She has so many ideas and is really receptive to inspiration. She can do anything, it’s inspiring to watch.

We snagged the incredible dress from LOHO bride. Their selection is just SO GOOD: modern, hip, and beautiful. Danielle Ryan did hair and make-up, she is so good at achieving a soft, natural bridal look without looking overdone.

Tabletop came from The Ark. They have the most beautiful selection. Chairs from Theoni collection. We love the idea of a white bentwood chair. Linens from La Tavola, as always. The cake was a creation of Sheila Mae by Danielle Keene. The cake was so fun to shoot. We wanted something clean but unusual. We really loved bringing this shoot together and being able to spend the day collaborating with such talented friends!

Turning a Tired, Mismatched Dining Room Into Something Gorgeous

I am in the thick of planning a dining room makeover for the Fall One Room Challenge and we are all ready in week 2! How is that even possible? If you missed it, read all about my beachy West Coast Meets East Coast inspiration here. Neglected is a good descriptive for this yellow dining room before the ORC came along. But tired and in need of a total revamp even though it has really good bones also fits the bill.

Thank goodness for the Challenge lighting a fire under my booty because the plans for this space are sooooo good. But first, let’s sneak a peek at the before…

The Plans

Aside from the paint update, I also have some major wallpaper plans for this room. With large windows, and a plethora of natural light, it felt like the perfect space to go bold with wallpaper. The newly painted white floors also give it a big dose of brightness.
I’ll be switching out the hand-me-down, mismatched furniture for pieces that feel a bit more modern while still in keeping with a classic, New England Dining Room.
Since the room is somewhat small, I decided to forgo a large credenza and instead will be adding smaller chests flanking the window as well as floating shelves to display art and tableware tidbits
There will also be a whole lot of pattern and a larger than life art piece. More on that later!

On the To Do List

1. Brightening Up the Trim
2. Wallpaper Install – cannot even wait for this one
3. Paint French Doors a pretty shade of light gray/blue
4. Lighting Install – another favorite
5. Floating Shelves Install

So excited to team with some really amazing sponsors on this Operation Dining Room Makeover…

Textiles and Finishes in a Sea of Blue

1. Trend Fabrics Vern Yip Collection Wallcovering – 30002W Medium Blue 03 | 2. Select Blinds Woven Woods | 3. Hudson Valley Lighting | 4. Faded French Stripe – Blue by kristopherk, Orchid Indigo | Michelle Mathis by michellemathis from Roostery | 5. Conga Line Navy & French Blue, Les Touches Blue, Les Touches Aqua, Java Java Navy fabric samples from Arianna Belle | 6. Textured Solid Light Blue Grey, Ikat Navy from Spoonflower

I’ll dive more into the mood board and the pieces I will be incorporating next week! Now lets see what all the other amazing participants are up to…shall we?

At Home with Ashley | Bre Purposed | Dabito | The English Room | Erin Kestenbaum

Harlow & Thistle | House of Brinson | J & J Design | Kelly Golightly | Linda Holt

Megan Bachmann | Michelle Gage | Mimosa Lane | Murphy Deesign | Vestige Home

Old Home Love | SG Style | Shay Geyer | Sita Montgomery 

Media Partner Better Homes & Gardens | TM by ORC

Fashion Industry Experts Tie the Knot at Rancho Bernardo Inn

The second you dive into this romantic garden wedding, it will be apparent that the Bride and Groom know their fashion. Both having worked at Ralph Lauren in New York City, they have that signature classic style nailed. And their Southern California wedding is a true reflection of that crazy good fashion. Planned by Luxe Special Events, with all white florals by Isari Flower Studio, get lost in this celebration through the lens of Dear Lovers.

Kristen and Patrick grew up less than a mile from each other, both from a tiny rural town of Morris, IL. They actually do not remember the exact day they met, since they went to the same elementary school and high school where they shared mutual friends growing up.

They grew closer by going on snowboarding trips with friends through high school and college. Their relationship grew even stronger with cross country moves for work in the fashion business. While on one of their yearly snowboard trips, Patrick proposed to Kristen mid-mountain in front of their closest friends in Telluride, CO.

As soon as they begun planning their wedding day, they both hoped it to take place in a lush green garden and wanted the reception outside just before dusk. Patrick, a former apparel designer at Ralph Lauren, and other notable brands, brought his natural eye for design while Kristen who worked in luxury retail and now designing and curating retail spaces for a Southern California lifestyle brand integrated her sophisticated style to bring their wedding vision to life. Both now work for golf lifestyle brand Linksoul based in SoCal so the venue search began and ended in San Diego.

Rancho Bernado Inn was a family favorite vacation spot for the Keegan’s when Patrick was younger, so it was a natural spot for all of their wedding activities. During a perfect holiday weekend, both families and friends traveled from all over to join the celebration some as far as Italy and Hong Kong.

Aside from the thermometer rising to nearly 100 degrees, it was a lovely weekend with the help of their amazing vendors. Choosing the right photographers was effortless. They worked with Dear Lovers Photography who incorporate digital and film into their shoots. They chose a classic yet timeless look of all white summer flowers from Tam Ashworth of Isari Flower Studio who combined glass and wood materials with a green, white, and navy color scheme. They tied together all of the small details such as their save the date magnets, drawn by animation student Luke Ashworth, of the couple at their future wedding venue.

Together the couple designed their own papergoods and invitation suite stamped with a custom wax seal. Patrick commissioned a local craftsman, Don Sanford of Sanford Shapes, to laser cut all of the guests name out of wood as well as create the seating chart.

The music was very important to the couple having Patrick’s Aunt and Uncle from the band Point Five to play their favorite songs during the ceremony seating and first dance. After dinner, they had Griffin House, a favorite acoustic artist of theirs, perform music for all of their guests while everyone enjoyed desserts by Jenny Wenny Cakes. The couple enjoyed Sunday brunch poolside with their out of town guests before taking off to Cabo to stay at the chic Cape hotel.

From Isari Flower Studio…This Bride and Groom both used to work for Ralph Lauren in NYC and they are both from the Mid-West. Now, transplants to SoCal they wanted a weekend experience for their family and friends whilst attending their 4th of July weekend wedding. Everything was beautifully captured by Dear Lovers.

Emotion Packed Wedding at a Philly Greenhouse

So many couples nowadays are looking for a really unique wedding venue. It can make the experience incredibly fun for all your guests. Yesterday we were in New Orleans at a delightful historic venue and today, we’re taking you to Philadelphia to the Horticulture Center. Makes it pretty fun for us, too! We know you’ll enjoy a look into today’s emotion-packed wedding film from NST Pictures with photography by Brianna Wilbur Photography. Let’s start with a quick look at the beautiful spring cherry blossoms that provided the perfect backdrop for these pre-wedding shots.

From NST Pictures… Jill and Zach’s wedding color palette centered around the blush pink of Philadelphia’s cherry blossoms at the Horticulture Center Highlights, blending beautifully with ivory and sage green. The bridal bouquet was wrapped in Jill’s mom’s veil, adding both a little “something old” and “something borrowed” to the bridal look. As you’ll see in their wedding highlight film, a festive donut stand awaited the guests instead of the traditional cake at the reception!
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A Bit of Advice From Style Me Pretty

DO – BUDGET FOR A WEDDING FILM: If funds are tight, pull a little $ from every line item on your budget sheet and put it toward a film! We PROMISE… you won’t regret the decision. Videographers usually offer a wide variety of coverage options.
DON’T – SCRIMP ON QUALITY: Choose a high quality cinematographer. Again, if funds are tight, opt for less coverage time from a highly recommended cinematographer who you know will provide a film you will cherish.
DO – ASK FRIENDS, FAMILY, WEDDING PLANNERS [and SMP (lol)] for RECOMMENDATIONS: Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a high quality videographer. And… We’re not tooting our own horn, but the videographers that we have listed in our Little Black Book – listed under VENDORS WE LOVE – were screened by our professional-peer-based-advisory board before being invited to be a member. NST PICTURES is one of our highly-recommended cinematographers. They have been credited on more than 25 features on Style Me Pretty going back to 2013!
DON’T – JUST LOOK IN YOUR IMMEDIATE LOCATION: The vast majority of cinematographers LOVE to travel and many have offices set up in multiple locations. Case in point, if you look at NST PICTURES’ website, you’ll see that they cover all 51 states plus Japan, The Phillipines and will meet you wherever your romantic heart leads you for your Destination Wedding.
DO – LOOK AT THE ‘ABOUT’ SECTION ON WEBSITES: We believe strongly in researching each and every vendor team before you sign on the dotted line. Meeting in person, talking on the phone, of course, are vital. But start with the ABOUT section on their website. It’s usually a quick synopsis of what’s important to the vendor, what they do when they aren’t working, and can give you insight into their core values. Choosing teams that have the same-ish values as you do is key. {Reading about NST Pictures reveals that they are a team of about a dozen extremely artistic women with talents going above and beyond cinematography – with a lone man in the middle. Kudos to him!}

And one last DO… Do let the experts have some say in the day. You may have a difficult time letting go of each and every detail… your must-have-shots, the-posed moments, the-exact-timeline-your-way-your-day, etc, (and that IS so important!) but be sure to let the talents of all your carefully chosen wedding professionals shine through. Meet with them all (or speak with them) and allow their recommendations to curate the finished product of #yourweddingday!

Looking back on their wedding day, Jill and Zach are sure to remember the big moments. But it’s through the expert lenses of Briana Wilbur and NST Pictures that they will feel all the moments they didn’t get to see… or the moments they were too excited to remember! Their film and their photographs will remind them of each and every snuggle, the full emotional impact of their first look ~ as well as all the spoken words. Their vows, the toasts, the songs they danced to – the whispers of love, wiping the tears off of each other’s faces, the emotion when Jill and her father walked down the aisle to Zach. One of the cutest things I saw on the highlight film was when all of the bridesmaids gave a little wiggle as they lined up under the cherry blossoms before the wedding! So, so fun!

From the Bride, Jill … Zach and I knew each other in High School, ran with the same crowd. It wasn’t until after college that we reconnected. I was living in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Zach was in Baltimore. I went to Baltimore for the weekend with ten of my girls and stayed with our mutual guy friend, Ryan, who just happened to be Zach’s roommate (at the time). Zach and I reconnected and bonded over an upcoming music festival that we were both attending in the summer. I gave him my number and, well, you know… history. We dated long distance for three and a half years but eventually, Zach moved back to the area for a job in Philadelphia. By Christmas Eve, we were engaged… and married two years later on April 28th!

We hope we’ve given you a few more reasons to schedule your favorite cinematographer, today. And remember, no matter where you find that special spot for your wedding, NST Pictures can be right beside you to capture and create a film that will bring the whole day rushing back on the big screen for years to come. In their words, “While we highlight the tangible details of the day, our expertise lies in focusing on the emotional details–like the way your fiancé squeezes your hand during the ceremony or the look you share with your mother while you’re getting ready… the hug that neither of you want to let go of… that rejoices in knowing that TODAY is your wedding day!”

We’d love for you to take some time with your sweetheart to watch more films from NST Pictures right here: Wedding Films from NST Pictures

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When Bright Color and Whimsy Define Your Wedding Day Style

I have known Andre & Sofia – the pair behind destination photography, floral and event design studio Branco Prata – for many years. I originally loved them for their kindness. Now, I love them for that and so much more. Their willingness to put themselves out there creatively, to dream, to ask, to try new things, to be bold when required and to be curated always. This shoot is a representation of that very creativity. That very curation. Based on the title “Color Me Graceful,” this is what happens when two intensely talented people gather their favorite artists and designers and take the day off to play. And it’s oh-so-wonderful.

From Branco Prata Studios… Color Me Graceful is a study, (a sketch or a painting), done in preparation for a accomplished art piece. It’s where the elements: light, color, form, perspective and composition, are planned to be used in a finished art work. It’s a set of images that tell a tale of fresh insights gainned while exploring our subject, and we want the viewer to share more of the “artist’s” sense of discovery as the images unfold in front of him or her.

Here, reality is born out of a paint brush, where everything is perfectly aligned with the setting. Our bride is like a blank canvas waiting to be painted, she is beautiful and graceful, she is divine, and on her wedding day, she will be able to shine even more than she usually does.

In short, Color Me Grateful is also a creation of visual, auditory and performing images that translate into a story, an exploration of the five senses. As humans we have a multitude of sensors: vision, audition, gustation, olfaction, and touch, among others, it is our destiny to explore them and elevate them.

Sophisticated Ireland Castle Wedding at Adare Manor

This is just one of those weddings that everyone will love. Because it’s beautiful. Because the smiles are real. Because you can feel a sense of quiet joy, of restrained elegance, of attention to the finest of details through each and every image. Photographed by Brosnan Photographic with a film by Dreamcatcher Productions, fall in love with this pretty Ireland celebration just as all of us here at SMP have.

Yasmin is originally from Ireland and Regi is from the US but they met and fell in love in Galway Ireland. They now live in California but chose to get married in Yasmin’s home country.

The newly restored Adare Manor is a site to behold and fit for a royal wedding an no wonder Yasmin and Regi chose the venue to host their international wedding.

They opted for a romantic candle lit ceremony to match the romantic feel of the reception. With a grand dinner entrance straight into their first dance, it was a beautifully elegant affair.

Thank you so much to Yasmin and Regi for sharing their beautiful day with us on Style Me Pretty! From her beautiful Vera Wang gown to the way he dips her at the close of the evening, this is one of those weddings that no matter how much time passes, will always be defined by sheer beauty. Keep scrolling to see the stunning video of the day unfold.

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Meet in the Middle! A Destination Wedding in New Orleans at Race + Religious

Looking for a super-cool stateside destination wedding spot? With a motto of “laissez les bon temps rouler” (that’s Cajun-speak for let the good times roll) ~ there’s no better place to make merry. Or get married! The flawless photographs from Marissa of Mon Soleil Weddings are sure to convince you that you can’t go wrong with a New Orleans wedding. With superb wedding coordination by Mint Julep Productions, this event-planner-bride knew just how to design a wedding that would delight and charm everyone. Lovely florals from Poppy & Mint added to the welcoming ambience that surrounded the entire wedding weekend at Race & Religious. We’re pretty sure that every wedding at this historic venue will be an incredible experience, but as you’ll see… Trisha and Sutton’s wedding was the epitome of whimsy and romance that united families from all over the U.S….. They met in the middle in NOLA!

From the Bride… My now husband and I live in California, but his extended family is mostly on the east coast and mine is mostly the west coast. We chose New Orleans as it’s one of our favorite cities – the music, the food, the culture…

We go there often and thought it would be the perfect place to host our guests for a weekend destination wedding due to our love of the city but also it’s location being somewhat in the middle!

Our guests were our most important element of the wedding – sharing our love of New Orleans, and for each other – and for my daughter – as we wanted to celebrate the love of creating a family.

Race and Religious was the perfect venue – we moved in our closest friends for the weekend, held our rehearsal dinner and welcome party there on Friday and then changed the look and feel of the space on Saturday for the wedding. We had the most amazing vendors – they made every creative detail we wished for come to life.

As a corporate event planner as my day job, I wanted to be able to share our vision and just have our vendor team go – and go they did – and far exceeded our expectations. Audrey of Distressed Rentals understood my fiance’s vision of creating small seating vignettes throughout the property for guests to relax and enjoy. Destiny of Poppy and Mint filled the front gate with the most incredible florals to create an amazing entrance for our guests.

We had the best southern food – both nights – Andrew and Dustin from Catering D’orelans were spectacular – guests were loving the oyster bars, boozy snow cone cocktails and traditional southern food specialties. We wrote each guest a love note to share how grateful we were for them to travel and spend the weekend with us and in return got some amazing Polaroid photos for our guest book. We danced the evening away and finished with a sparkler last dance to cap the night. It was a fantasy weekend – we are the luckiest family to have been surrounded and celebrated by our dear friends and relatives in our favorite city.

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And now, with these amazing images in mind, watch the wedding highlight film from Mon Soleil Weddings as Trisha and Scott welcome their guests to the wedding weekend, declare their love and belief in each other and as Scott vows to love and cherish Trisha and Emmy to the end of time! A celebration of “love, friendship, marriage and family!

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Marissa Lambert (aka Mon Soleil Weddings) has been featured at least fifteen times on the pages of Style Me Pretty! Pretty awesome fact, right?

Be sure to visit today’s full gallery of images from Mon Soleil Weddings that capture the love ~ the New Orleans way!

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From the Welcome Party to the Day After, This is a Perfect Wedding Weekend

For a Bride and Groom that are wanderlusters through and through, a destination wedding was a must. But this Italian affair is so much more. Feast your eyes on an epic adventure that spans three countries (Ibiza, Italy, Greece) and culminates with the prettiest celebration in Puglia. Planned by Meggie Francisco, with floral design by Chiara Sperti plus Tracy Enoch’s gorgeous photographs, this is a wedding weekend for the books.

For avid world travelers Morgan McCleery and Michael Phillips, an epic adventure was the only way to wed. The couple has family history stretching back generations in Italy, so they knew the perfect country for the wedding. But how could they make the even more of this once-in-a-lifetime moment? The answer was to journey not just to one country, but three!

It all started with a bachelor/bachelorette party from a dream in Ibiza. Surrounded by their entire wedding party, the couple lazed away the days and partied until sunrise while counting down the days to their wedding. Next stop: a wedding in Puglia, a hidden gem in southern Italy boasting crystal clear beaches and thousands of years of history. The conclusion: but of course, a honeymoon in Mykonos, Greece.

While Puglia is generally dry and mild in May, wedding day brought balmy 80-degree temperatures. Bright and early in the morning, Michael and his groomsmen rode vespas to ancient Ostuni. Often called “The White City” for its jigsaw puzzle of white-washed buildings perched high atop a hill, Ostuni features stunning Baroque churches and sprawling views of the Adriatic Sea. Meanwhile, Morgan and her bridesmaids relaxed with champagne in the bridal suite while getting prettied up.

As the wedding day festivities got underway, Morgan surprised Michael with a wedding day gift of a Breitling watch, and shorty after the couple glimpsed each other for the first time on a centuries-old stone staircase. Morgan wore a romantic, summery floral appliqué gown with a creamy champagne underlay, and accented her look with antique beaded earrings gifted by her mom. In true Italian style, the bride wore sky high stillettos to complete the ensemble. Her bouquet, designed by talented local florist Chiara Sperti, bursted with creamy peonies and tiny touches of blush.

The groom donned a dashing gray-blue trim-fit suit from Suit Supply, complete with slim-fit pants that grazed the ankle. A clean navy pocket square and boutonniere accented with olive branch topped off his stylish attire. As the ceremony began, feathery clouds filtered the sunset.

The couple exchanged written vows under a dramatic arch bursting with blossoming bougainvillea. A halo of pampas grass anchored the moment. Low arrangements of pampas grass and creamy floral accents tied in the neutral tones of the bouquets and bridesmaid gowns.

The reception was held in the Masseria’s smartly designed Winter Garden, a bright space surrounded by windows and featuring a dramatic stone fireplace stacked with ivory candles. Tables were topped with lush centerpieces and taper candles from Chiara Sperti. Guests found their seats by way of a custom water color seating chart, featuring a map of the region. The scene was set for a spectacular 5-course meal.

Wedding festivities kicked off in Fasano, Italy with a poolside welcome dinner at the the boho eco-luxe Masseria Montenapoleone, a 16th century gem built atop an ancient cave settlement. Reflections of the cafe bulbs twinkled in the water as guests enjoyed refreshing Aperol Spritz cocktails, Italian wines, and Peroni beer. As the sun set, the chef topped pizzas with fresh organic tomatoes and local cheeses. Guests requested custom toppings and watched in delight as the chef pulled piping-hot pizzas out of the wood-fired oven.

The evening started with a variety of fresh, local charcuterie, carpaccio, and fried prawns. The meal continued with Puglia’s most beloved pasta, orecchiete, served with local zampina sausage and a wild herb crumble. For the main course, guests relished a tender beef filet with sweet and sour baby onions and charred potatoes. The evening transitioned outside, where the chef set up a cannoli bar under a terrace and the indoor/outdoor bar came to life. One the dance floor, the groom and his mom surprised the crowd with a traditional Italian Tarantello, and everyone joined the dance floor! Without missing a beat, DJ Deks fired up a high-energy mix of top party hits and Ibiza-style house music while guests danced under the stars. Seemingly every “last song” turned into a wild encore. Morgan, Michael, and their guests left it all on the dance floor – and the couple stepped into the night as an exhausted yet thrilled Mr. And Mrs. Phillips.

The next day, the group gathered back at the Masseria pool for one last hurrah, with DJ Deks playing chill summer beats by the pool. Guests relaxed in their cabanas and traded stories about the festivities the night before. Some took the afternoon and evening to explore local sights like Monopoli and Polignano a Mare, and others soaked in the sunshine and the relaxing quiet of the Masseria. But as the adventure wound down, one thing was clear: Morgan and Michael succeeded in kicking off their marriage while giving their guests the experience of a lifetime.